Surgical Recovery: An Extended Timeline
When a patient has a single procedure, such as breast augmentation, they generally expect to be back to work and engaged in the majority of their normal activities after two weeks. The same may be true for a patient who has liposuction or a facelift. The magic of a Mommy Makeover, though, is that the surgeon customizes multiple techniques into a single surgery. Doing so achieves maximum results with just one recovery period. What we don’t see is how that recovery period could be extended. This is especially true when abdominoplasty is involved and doubly true when abdominoplasty repairs muscle separation. Women who want to restore their shape through a Mommy Makeover are in good hands with Cincinnati plastic surgeon Dr. Donna Krummen. Here, we discuss all facets of treatment, including how to plan accordingly for a smooth recovery.
Restrictions After a Mommy Makeover
All surgical patients expect some activity restrictions after their procedures. For the woman who gets a Mommy Makeover, these restrictions are very likely going to affect her family life for a few weeks. What patients need to prepare for the most is the fact that they cannot pick up their small children. They cannot run and chase and play in the same ways they did before surgery. For a period of up to 6 weeks, patients will be restricted from lifting heavy objects. They will take showers instead of baths and, due to restrictions in bending, be advised not to bathe small children.
What Can I Do?
Hearing what feels like a long list of “don’ts,” many women ask what they can do after their Mommy Makeover? This is an important question for any mother who has her procedure while her children are still living at home. The younger the children, the more important the question. For mothers with small children, it is essential to get help. A second or third set of hands can significantly reduce unnecessary stress during recovery. While others do the lifting and the playing, mom-in-recovery can read wonderful stories. She can watch movies and play board games. She can prepare healthy meals and school lunches. She can sit with her children at bedtime and hear all about their day. She can make up stories and songs or color imaginative paintings with her children. She can stay engaged even if not physically so, and in so doing, Mom can also ward off some of the post-surgical blues that are common after surgery.
Learn more about the value of a Mommy Makeover. Call 513.985.0850 to schedule your visit with Dr. Krummen.
